This study took place between over three academic years in 16 schools and compared the Optima Reading with the National Literacy Strategy (NLS). The results from Study 2 were very similar to those in Study 1. Children made better progress when children were taught through the Optima Reading programme than through the NLS or a combination of conventional teaching and the NLS. Optima Reading impacted on children of different attainments levels. The study demonstrated that all children, higher and lower achievers, made more progress through Optima Reading than the NLS and that the gains that children made in Years R-2 were maintained when they progressed into Year 3.
The research is reported in Solity, J.E., Deavers, R., Kerfoot, S., Crane, G. & Cannon, K. (2000).